A monumental and bizarre political statement has been shut down by US officials. The Miccosukee Tribe, based in Florida, has been ordered to dismantle a 15-foot tall, bright green fibreglass alligator statue uniquely adorned with the face of former President Donald Trump.
The unusual sculpture, which had become an unexpected tourist attraction, was erected on the infamous Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. Its installation was part of a Native American cultural event and peace ceremony held by the tribe.
However, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which manages the island, has ruled that the statue's presence violates the terms of the tribe's permit. Officials stated the permit was granted for a temporary cultural event, not for the long-term display of a large-scale statue deemed inappropriate for the historic site.
The statue, which features Trump's distinctive face and yellow coiffed hair on the body of a reptile, was intended as a symbolic piece. The tribe's chairman is reported to have referred to the alligator as a 'powerful creature,' though the specific symbolism linking it to the former president remains a topic of speculation and amusement.
Park service representatives have confirmed they are working with the Miccosukee Tribe to facilitate the statue's removal from the former penitentiary island. The incident highlights the ongoing clash between artistic expression, political symbolism, and the strict regulations governing national monuments and parks.
